Device for transferring fluids



Feb. 16, 1954 FLETCHER 2,669,483

DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING FLUIDS Filed July 11, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 RUSSELL H. FLETCHER INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEY Feb. 16, 1954 R, H. FLETCHER DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING FLUIDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1951 lPussaL H FLETCHER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1954 DEVICE OR BANSFERB NG F U D Russell H. Fletcher, Dallas, Tex., assignor of one? fourth to E. C. Fletcher, one-fourth to Velma Anderson, and one-fourth to Bettye Alexander,

Dallas, Tex.

Application July 111, 1951, Serial No. 286,123

.Claims.

This, invention relates to a device for transferfrom one point to another and more particu arly to a device having an electrically driven pump for pumping fluid through a flexible conduit woundable on an electrically driven reel.

In many applications, such as fueling of airplanes or filling 01 reservoirs from tanks mounted on vehicles, it is necessary to pump fluid from a tank through a flexible conduit to another tank. The flexible conduit is usually wound on a. reel and a necessary length of the conduit is unwound from the reel to allow the outlet end of the conduit to reach the inlet of the tank to be filled. It is desirable to locate the controls for the electric motors which drive the pump and the reel adjacent the outlet or nozzle end of the flexible conduit in order that a single operator may control the motors while handling the nozzle end of the flexible conduit. Since the flexible conduit may be of considerable length, the conductors leading from the controls to the motors must also be quite long and are susceptible to fouling and abrading. These conductors, therefore, should preferably be secured to the flexible conduit in such amanner that they will not foul and tangle and at the same time should be protected from abrasion as the flexible :conduit is dragged over the ground or around sharp corners.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new andimproved device for transferring fluids from on point to another.

It is another object of the invention'toprovide a new and improved device for pumping flu-ids through a flexible conduit which is wvoundable on'an electrica'lly'driven reel.

'Itis still-another objcet'of the invention to provide a new and improved device for pumping fluids through a flexible "conduit woundable on an electrically driven reel in which the controls for the motors of the pump and of the reel are located adjacent the nozzle end of the flexible conduit in orderthat a single operator may controlthe d'evicefrom the nozzle end 'of the flexible housing.

It is a further'object ofthe*inventionto provide a new and-improved flexibleoonduithaving dioxible electric conductors embedded in the *wall thereof "to protect the conductors from fouling and abrasion.

It is a still further-object of the inventionto provide-a device-having a pump and a reel driven by electrical motors and a'fiexible conduit wound on the reel and connected to the pump having electrical conductors embedded in its well and connected to the' motors and to controls mounted 2 on the flexible conduit adjacent the nozzle end of the cable.

In brief, the new and improved device for pumping fluid includes a reel rotatably mounted on a base and driven by a reversible motor, A flexible conduit is wound on the reel and has one end connected through a suitable connection to a pump also mounted on the base and driven by a second reversible motor. The other free end .of the flexible conduit is provided with a conventional nozzle. In order that the motors of the pump and of the reel may be controlled .by a sin.- gle operator handling the nozzle, a plurality of switches are mounted on the flexible conduit ad.- jacent the nozzle and are connected to conductors embedded in the flexible conduit which ex.- tend through the conduit to the reel. A suitable slip ring assembly is mounted on the rotatable reel and ooacts with brushes on a stationary member to connect the ends of the conductors to the motors.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed .outin the appended'claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pump, .the reel on which the flexible conduit is wound, and the motors foroperating the pump and the reel;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional -.view of the conduit taken along line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view takenalong the line33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of thenozzle provided on the outer free nd oi'thefiexible conduit Figureii is aperspectiv view of the nozzle;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of one end of the -reel showing the manner in which the inner end of the flexible conduit is connected to a stationary connection and the manner in which the conductors and slip ring assembly are connected; and,

Figure-"l a diagrammatic illustration .of the electric control circuit.

Referring now to the drawing, the device 10 for transferring fluid from one pointto another comprises a base ll pn which mounted two brackets I! and [3 for rotatably supporting the reel 14. Each bracket has two upwardly and convergently'inclined legs I5 and i6 whose-lower ends are securedto the base -I I by bolts H. The upper ends of the legs of each bracket are-rigidly secured, by welding or other conventional means,

to a bearing ring is in which is mounted a conventional ball bearing assembly I ll having stationary races 20 secured to the ring l8 and movable races 2!. Each of the end disks 22 and 23 of the reel is has an integral outwardly extending hollow shaft 24 which abuts and extends through the movable races 2! of its associated ball bearing assembly R9. The end disks are secured to one another by longitudinal integral connecting members 25 about which the flexible conduit 26 is wound. The flexible conduit may be made of rubber, plastic or other suitable substance. The connecting members 25 are curved in order that the flexible conduit is not bent around sharp corners while on the reel. It will be apparent now that the reel M is rotatably mounted on the brackets i2 and 63 by means of the ball bearing assemblies IS in the bearin sleeves is of the brackets.

The inner end of the flexible conduit 26 extends inwardly through an aperture 2'! in one of the connecting members 25 and is provided with an externally threaded fitting 23 which engages in an internally threaded aperture in a coupling 29. The fitting 28 and the coupling 29 are secured together in fluid tight relation by a dock washer 3B threaded on the fitting 28 which compresses a gasket 3| against the flat upper 'surface of a boss 32 provided on the coupling. The couplinghas an outwardly extending annular flange 33 which is secured to an annular ledge 3 formed in the shaft 2d of end disk 32 by an enlargement of the central bore 36, by bolts 3'1. An annular gasket 38 is interposed between the ledge 35 and the flange 33 to seal against the passage of fluid therebetween.

The coupling 29 is also provided with an annular inwardly extending flange 3% against which abuts the outwardly extending flange do on the inner end of a fitting 4|. The flange 4b is of greater diameter than the bore 36 of the shaft Ell so that a packing 42 may be disposed in the annular space formed by the ledge 36, the flange M3, the coupling 29 and the fitting M. The packing 42, which may consist of a plurality of packer rings, seals between the coupling 28, the fitting i and the shaft 24 to prevent leakage of fluid therebetween.

The bore 3d of the shaft 2d of the end disk 22 is enlarged at the outer end of the shaftto provide an annular ledge 43 and is threaded as at 4 to receive a gland nut as which has an inwardly extending flange 35a. A packing G5 is compressed between the flange 65a of the gland nut to and the ledge t3 to seal between the fitting H and the shaft 24. A resilient washer 46a is interposed between the outwardly extending flange er of the gland nut and the outer end of the shaft 2% of the end disk 22.

It will now be apparent that the shaft 24 may rotate in the ballbearing assembly is about the stationary fitting 4| and that the coupling 29 which is rigidly secured to the shaft by the bolts 37 will rotate with the shaft.v Fluid may pass through the fitting ii, the coupling 29, and the fitting 28 into the flexible conduit 25 whatever the axial position of the reel 54 to the fitting tl. The packings t2 and 4t prevent leakage of fluid between elements which are movable relative to one another. The shaft as of the end disk 23 may obviously be a simple stub shaft extending into the bearing sleeve of the bracket i3 since it need only support one end of the reel.

Fluid is pumped into the fitting 4! by a pump 38 mounted on the base i l and having an outlet an electric reversible motor 53 also mounted on the base H.

The reel [4 is rotated by electric reversible motor 54 mounted on the base H and having a pulley 55 on its shaft 55. The shaft 24 of the end disk 22 is also provided with a pulley 55 which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 2:1 by means of a conventional slot and key 57 connection. A belt 58 connects the pulleys 55 and 56 so that the motor 54 causes the reel is to rotate.

In order that an operator may control the mo tors 53 and 54 while handling the nozzle 59 at the free end of the flexible conduit 2%, which may be at a considerable distance from the base H when the flexible conduit is completely unwound ofi the reel It, the flexible conduit is provided with four pairs 6%], GI, 52 and 63 of flexible conductors which are embedded in the wall of the flexible conduit. The flexible conductors are preferably embedded far from the outer surface of the flexible conduit in order that abrasion and wear of theconduit will not readily expose the conductors. As shown in the drawing, the inner wall of the conduit is actually provided with ridges 64 which extend over the conductors.

The inner ends of the pairs 60, BI, 62 and 63 of flexible conductors are brought out adjacent the fitting 28, Figure 6, and extend through an aperture 65 in the end disk 22. The conductors 98a, 6m, 62a and 63a are connected to one another and to a slip ring 66 mounted on an annular mounting block 61 of non-conductive substance which is secured to the disk 22 by a plurality of screws 58. The conductors 69b, Gib, 62b and 63b are connected to the slip rings 69, HI, H and I2, respectively also mounted on the block 61.

A block '13 of non-conducting material is secured to the bearing ring i8 of the bracket I2 by bolts 14, one of which can be seen in Figure 6. The block 13 is provided with a plurality of recesses 75 each of which receives a coil spring 16 which biases a brush 7? slidably mounted in an aperture 18 of the plate 19 which is secured to the block 13 by screws 80.

As can be seen diagrammatically in Figure 7, the brushes 11 contacting the slip rings H and 72 are connected to two terminals a and b of the reel motor 54 while the brushes contacting the rings 69 and 10 and connected to two terminals a and b of the pump motor 53. The third terminal c of each motor is connected directly to one side of a direct current supply circuit 8| while the brush ll contacting the slip ring 66 is connected to the opposite side of the supply circuit. The motors 53 and 54 rotate in one direction when their terminals 12 and c are connected across the supply circuit 8! and in the opposite direction when their terminals in and c are connected across the supply circuit.

The pump motor 53 is controlled by a pair of switches 82 and 83 while the reelmotor is controlled by the switches 84 and 85. As can be seen in Figure '7, the terminals a and c of the pump motor 53 are connected across the supply circuit through the brush 1'! contacting the slip ring 69, the conductor 6%, the switch 82, the conductor 60a, slip ring 66 and the brush ll contacting the slip ring 66 when the switch 82 is depressed. The pump motor :53 will "then rotate in one direction. If the switch 83 instead is depressed, the terminals 11 and c of the pump motor will be connected across the supply circuit and the pump motor will rotate in the opposite direction. The switches 84 and 85 will connect the terminals b and c and terminals a and 0, respectively, across the supply circuit when actuated so that the direction of rotation of the reel motor can similarly. be controlled.

The switches 82 to 85 are mounted on a rectangular housing 96 mounted on the free end of the flexible conduit 26 adjacent the nozzle 59. The housing 86 has annular flanges 81 and 88 which are clamped to the flexible conduit by clamp rings 89 and 90, respectively, whicli are tightened by screws 9i and 92, respectively. The housing 96 is of non-conductive substance and has a bore 93 in each side which is closed by an apertured rectangular plate 94 of non-conductive material. The plates 94 aresecured to the housing by screws 95. Each of the bores 93 is reduced to form a ledge 96 against which bears the spring 91- which biases the switch '92., 83, 84 or 95, as the case may be to open position. Each of the switches includes a circular contact plate 98 of a conductive substance which is adapted to contact the posts 99 and I09 to which a pair of the conductors 69, 6E, 62 or 63 are connected. A push button I! is secured to each circular plate 98 by a screw I02 and extends through an aperture I03 in the associated rectangular plate '94.

If desired, the rectangular plates 94 may be made of a flexible material, such as rubber and may be cemented to the housing and to the circular contact plates 98 to hermetically seal the switches so that any sparks occurring in the switches would not ignite inflammable vapors which may be present if the device is used to transfer gasoline or other highly volatile fuels.

The nozzle 59 may be of the conventional type having a rotatable vane I04 in its throat geared to an indicating mechanism I05 for indicating the quantity of fluid passed through the nozzle.

In such use as the loading of fuel oil into a storage tank of a residence, the device 19 may be mounted on a tank truck with the conduit 5| communicating with the reservoir of fuel oil in the tank of the truck. The truck is driven as close as possible to the storage tank and the driver of the truck then stops the truck and moves to the device Ill. The nozzle 59 is lifted from the socket I96 and the switch housing is lifted from between the brackets I01 and I08 on the base H which serve to keep the switches clear of the base. One of the switches 84 or 85, say 94, which connects the reel motor across the supply circuit in such manner that the reel is rotated in a direction to unwind the flexible conduit 26 is actuated and the operator carries the nozzle away from the truck toward the storage tank. The reel motor 54 can be stopped and started as desired so that an unnecessary length of the flexible conduit is never unwound. When the nozzle is brought to the storage tank, the reel motor is stopped and the nozzle is inserted into the inlet of the storage tank. One of the switches 82 or 83, say 82, is depressed and causes the pump motor to rotate in such a direction as to cause the pump to move fuel oil from the truck tank to the storage tank. When the desired amount of fuel oil is transferred to the storage tank, the switch 82 is released and the nozzle is lifted out of the inlet of the storage tank. The

switch I: isthen' detected to cause the'pum motor 53 to rotate in the opposite directionand cause the pump to draw the fuel oil remaining in the flexible conduit back into the truck tank. The switch '85 is next actuated and causes the reel motor to rotate the reel in the direction necessary to wind the flexible conduit on the reel. The operator need only walk along carrying the nozzle as the flexible conduit is wound on the reel. When the conduit is runy wound on the reel, the nozzle is replaced in the Socket and the switch housing 86 is replaced between the brackets 1" and I08.

It'wlll be apparent from the above description that a single operator can control the pump and reel motors as he handles the nozzle. More over, it will be evident that the conductors can ironing the motors can not fo 'ul since they are embedded the flexible conduit. Neither are these'conductors ex osed to wear or abrasion due to their mounting in the flexible-conduit.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the an: that various changesand modifications can be made in the described and illustrated device without departing from the invention and, it is interim,

therefore,- in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a rotatable reel; a motor for rotating said reel selectively in opposite directions; or pump having an outlet; an elongate flexible conduit having one end secured to the reel, said one end being connected to the outlet of said pump; a motor for driving said pump to move fluid selectively in either direction through said flexible conduit, said conduit having a plurality of flexible conductors embedded therein and extending longitudinally thereof; a nozzle at the other end of said flexible conduit; and a plurality of switches mounted on said flexible conduit adjacent said nozzle and connected to said conductors for selectively controlling the operation of said reel and pump motors, said conductors also being connected to said motors.

2. In combination: a rotatable reel mounted on a stationary structure; an electric reversible motor for selectively rotating said reel in opposite directions; a pump having an outlet; a flexible conduit having one end secured to said reel; means mounted on said stationary structure connecting said one end of said flexible conduit to said outlet of said pump; a motor for driving said pump to move fluid selectively in either direction through said flexible conduit, said conduit having a plurality of flexible conductors embedded therein and extending longitudinally thereof, said conductors having ends brought out adjacent said one end of said flexible conduit; cooperating means on said fixed structure and said reels connecting said ends of said conductors to terminals of said motors; a nozzle on the other end of said flexible conduit; and a plurality of switches mounted on the flexible conduit adjacent said nozzle, the other ends of said conductors being brought out adjacent said switches and connected thereto, said switches selectively controlling the operation of said reel and pump motors.

3. The device of claim 2 characterized in that said cooperating means comprise a plurality of slip rings mounted on said reel and a plurality of brushes mounted on said stationary structure, each of said brushes contacting one of said slip rings.

4-. In combination: a rotatable reel; a motor for rotating said reel selectively in opposite directions; a pump having an outlet; an elongate flexible conduit having one end secured to the reel, said one end being connected to the outlet of said pump; a motor for driving said pump to move fluid selectively in either direction through said flexible conduit, said conduit having a plurality of flexible conductors embedded therein and extending longitudinally thereof; a nozzle at the other end of said flexible conduit; and a switch housing having a plurality of switches mounted on said conduit adjacent said nozzle and connected to said conductors for selectively controlling the operation of said reel and pump motors, said conductors also being connected to said motors for connecting said motors across a supply circuit when said switches are actuated. 5. A pumping device comprising: a reel having anelectric driving motor rotatably mounted on a fixed structure; a pump having an electric driving motor; a flexible conduit having one end secured to said reel and connected to said pump; a plurality of conductors in the wall of said flexible conduit extending longitudinally thereof, said conductors having opposite exposed ends 8 at said one end of said conduit and at the other end of said conduit; a plurality of slip rings and a plurality of brushes, each of said brushes contacting one of said slip rings, for connecting said exposed ends of said conductors to said motors; and control means mounted adjacent the other end of said flexible conduit for connecting exposed ends of the conductors for controlling the operation of said motors.

10 RUSSELL H. FLETCHER.

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